With lots and various emerging high tech trends nowadays, I can’t think of a reason if I still fail to send a long distance greeting to family members, friends and loved ones for any occasion. Not unless if the reason is being “unthoughtful”, busy, or simply no time to do so…

I have listed some options I can think of for me to be able to extend even a simple “Happy Birthday” message to a long distance friend of mine:

• Connect to the internet and login to any popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Friendster – post a shout out to her wall or send a private message.
• Write a blog with my special birthday greetings in my personal website and send the link to my friend – it’s another way of greeting a friend with a personal and unique touch.
• If I’m in travel but within the “Wifi” area, grab my iPhone and connect to a free instant messaging that we are both subscribing. My favourite is the “YAK” application, very simple and handy.
• Send an email with personalize electronic greeting cards – there are lots of beautiful e-cards flashing in the internet.
• Grab a cellphone and dial her roaming number – it’s expensive but we can hear our voices and exchange talks.
• Lastly, chat and open my video cam – especially if I know my friend is also always online.
• And oh, sending birthday cards by snail mail is also an option!

Well, there are lots of options to take, the “techy” way or the “old-school” way – whatever our option is, I believe that sending greetings to loved ones will make us a part of their special day and will surely make them happy.

I tried to recall how we usually celebrate our anniversary way back in high school and it makes me smile… I remember that I wanted to make sure that I greeted a “Happy Anniversary” to the 5 of them first so I set my alarm clock 5 minutes before 12mn, so I can send a text message greeting right away. One of our favourite activity to make the celebration complete is to make sure that we heard holy mass together in our school chapel. The simple exchanging of gifts and letters will mark a remembrance of the celebration also.

Now that we have different lives, hectic schedule from work and family makes it difficult for all of us to bond regularly, some are even out of the country. But despite of the distance and time, I’m still proud that we remain friends for more or less 15 years now… and counting. Amidst all the misunderstandings, petty fights and long silence between each of us, the essence of friendship when blessed will never vanish. And we will always remember that we call ourselves ‘Cheramis’, which means ‘best of friends’.

Happy Anniversary Cheramis!

our church wedding

One of my favorite occasions is an “Anniversary”, may it be my parents’ anniversary, friendship anniversary, and birthdays can also be an anniversary though in a special way. Well… it makes me feel good when I’m being thoughtful especially to an occasion that involves loved ones. The best anniversary occasion is of course my own wedding anniversary. In general a wedding anniversary is shared intimately and quietly between the couple in a special, private and romantic settings. And how we celebrate this occasion? Here’s my simple sharing…

Hubby and I celebrates our 3rd wedding anniversary which is traditionally known to be a “leather” wedding, it’s symbolic in a way that it represents the durability of your marriage. Though we did not exchange gifts together like leather belt, leather bag, leather wallet, etc… I believe that being together on this occasion and accompanied with our only little girl is already a durable representation for me.

Let me share some highlights of how we celebrate the occasion.

ucc coffee cafe terrace

cyma restaurant - greek cuisine

For our lunch date, we decided to pick a class A restaurant where we are both first time. We went to Cyma restaurant then in Ayala and relished the Greece cuisine, it’s definitely a good dining experience for me, loved their food and the salads… my hubby loved the prawns.

Dinner should be more special, so after a quick strolling and shopping, I reminded myself to pick up our little girl at home in order to join us for dinner and hear the 6:00 pm holy mass at the same church where we exchanged vows. The mass is the most important activity for me, because it is one special way to thank the Almighty that we reached this special occasion. After the Holy Mass, we had dinner, which we also wanted to pick up a new dining place and it’s him who personally choose “UCC Café”. Though it’s not really our first time, because we had dine at their Makati branch when we were still engaged, but it’s our first time in Cebu since the cafe opened.

It is simple and spontaneous, that is how we celebrate our 3rd year! After all, whether it’s our 3rd time or 50th year, it is important to celebrate wedding anniversaries together in a special and memorable way we can afford.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom whom since day 1 of my conception took good care of me until I was born and finally lead me to where I am now. And to all mother’s out there, this is the most special day to honor all of you!

From Wikipedia, Mother’s day is an annual holiday that recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well the positive contributions that they make to society.

Motherhood is the best thing for me, I never realized how special and heroic all my mom’s sacrifices for me before until I myself get to taste the stage of motherhood. It is a special responsibility that each mother portrays uniquely and by instinct… I always love to hear my friends’ different stories who are now parents how they care and support their kids. I learned from them, and most especially I learned from my mom who showed me one of the best example of motherhood.

A mother does not only care for her kids but also to the father of her kids… this for me is the essence to perfect motherhood because when my little daughter sees how her dad and I bond and take care of each other, I see in her eyes how lovable she is and how sweetly she expressed that love to both of us too, and from there I can say that it is my first step to lead her to respect me as her mom.

Happy Mother’s day great Moms!

sorry, this is the only shot I got of the couple

Finally, it’s Glenah’s wedding day and I really make it a “date” to attend and witness this very special occasion of her life. Glenah is one of my high school friend that I can always remember because we once shared a piece of our “admiration-to-a-nun” fever (just my own term, hehe) before… I can’t say the full details here but those high school memories are enough for me to be present in her special day… Well if our favourite FMA knows how well we managed our life after high school especially Glenah, I’m sure she will be very proud… And oh, not to mention, it’s been quite straight 11 years since we didn’t see each other. The first time we chatted after 11 years was on my cousin’s wedding day last year and gladly I met her again during our high school small reunion dinner last 3 months ago, where she announced her wedding date and invited us.

I’m glad to be with my high school classmates again, exchanging stories and news, it’s a nice feeling because these are the people whom I’m not seeing everyday yet when I got to see them occasionally and in an event like this, the happy thoughts of high school keeps pouring in… Oh, how I miss high school life.

high school classmates, iping, marie, matche, abbey and dothy...

with yayong and nera...

To Glenah and Roy, my sincere Congratulations! I appreciate how you organized your wedding! You did it well, you’re such a nice couple to look at! The occasion is beautiful, well not to mention your motif is my favourite color. I’m also lucky I got your give aways (thanks to Iping), it’s a nice remembrance of your wedding, very useful… now I know why it’s ‘honey’. I wish you both a happy married life!

I love the color green so much that even how simple the token is and most especially when it is embellished with any shade of green, it will always make my eyes wide and a smile radiates… haha… a green fanatic. My dearest friend Joan knows it, and on my birthday I got one of the special birthday gift – a Leonardo green bag! I super like it and I just can’t help not to post it here.. hehe… Thanks so much dear..

The green bag is one month old now with me and the generosity and sweetness of a friend etched a special mark in my memory forever. This is the beauty of friendship.

At the end of the day, I will get back to my wish list and see how many I got

1. Hear Holy Mass – at my favorite chapel, CCTN of course
2. Lunch at Shangri-la – i haven’t got a chance to see this prestigious 5-star hotel, and I wish this time it will push through…
3. Dinner at Spice and Fusion Restaurant – when our boss treated us for lunch in this place 3 months ago, I wanted to go back, so I hope this is it… on my special day.
4. See my family and friends – as much as I wanted to see all of them on that day, I know it will not be totally possible, but I still wish…
5. File a birthday leave – I already submitted a leave request but sad to say I don’t get the approval notice yet… , well it’s ok, I still have Monday to check if I got approved.
6. Get a new laptop – … and it should be the latest ASUS model! and yes! I got it! Thanks sweetie!
7. Get a new ward drobe – I wish to get a new set from Red Logo, I love to see Donita Rose wears any of them…
8. Get a hair spa – … and a new haircut too, wanna try that new look I saw in the magazine… hehe
9. Get drunk – yeah, why not! joan is the expert, how i wish we could hang out and get drunk all night! haha… cheers dear!
10. Beautiful surprises! – well, everyone loves surprises… and I’m one of them!

I’m looking forward for that day, whether all my wishes come true or not, what is important is to thank God for good health and for the gift of life.

But despite of so many storms and challenges we faced, and even how seldom we bond and see each other lately… one thing for sure, the friendship is still alive. I miss all of them and I’m looking forward for another bonding moments with the ‘cheramis’.

Today’s occasion is the birthday of a friend whom I consider special… she is one of a kind friend and I feel blessed to have her for even if we seldom see each other, she remains a friend. And yes! It’s her birthday today!

4:00 PM – Meet the birthday girl in Mocha Blends – this is one of the entries in my planner for today.

I am in the middle of my 3:00 meeting when I remember that I have an appointment to meet a friend and it’s already 20 minutes to 4:00 in my watch, and the discussion in our meeting seems to take long. Good thing we settled to meet at 4:30 when she texted… I have to make sure to wrap up the meeting before 4:30 and meet the birthday celebrant finally! I did not see her for more than a month now because she was out of the country, so I’m also excited to see her.. hehe..

I can see the radiant of her smile when I entered the coffee shop, enough for me to conclude that she is happy and I love to see that! I’m glad she find time to insert our meeting knowing her busy schedule. Even how short our meeting is, the laughter and exchanging of stories seems long already. Happy Birthday Dear and I’m glad to see you happy and enjoying life to the fullest!

I want to share one of the birthday poems I like that I found somewhere the net before… I rummage my notes this morning and I found it.

Birthday Wishes For My Friend
By Joanna Fuchs

On your birthday,
I wish for you the fulfillment
of all your fondest dreams.
I hope that for every candle
on your cake
you get a wonderful surprise.
I wish for you that
whatever you want most in life,
it comes to you,
just the way you imagined it,
or better.
I hope you get as much pleasure
from our friendship as I do.
I wish we were sisters,
so I could have known you
from the beginning.
I look forward to
enjoying our friendship
for many more of your birthdays.
I’m so glad you were born,
because you brighten my life
and fill it with joy.

Happy Birthday!

A very good and sweet friend of mine shares a very special time with me yesterday, our meeting was short but it indeed rekindle the lost time we did not see and talk to each other. And she is the most generous friend I ever got, I am so grateful to have her as a friend. I am surprised when she handed me a new wallet as a gift from her Hongkong trip, I’m so happy at the same time very touched for her sweetness. My Girbaud wallet needs to be replaced really although it is still useful but it is no longer presentable and having this new special wallet in my bag feels me so good. Honestly, this is the best gift I ever received from a friend, I will treasure this wallet as much as I treasure our friendship .

my new treasured wallet

my old favorite girbaud wallet

Thank you “dear”, you are not just beautiful outside but also in the inside. One Jewish saying says that “who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure”. A friend like you is always a precious gem… hard to find… difficult to part with and treasure forever. I’m so lucky… I found you! Love yah!